Genesis 31

To see Genesis 31 without my comments click HERE.

The sons of Laban started to notice that Jacob (Israel) was starting to have quite a few head of cattle and were complaining to Laban that there would be nothing left for their inheritance. Jacob noticed that Laban's mood was also changing and at that same time Jacob had the calling of Father Yahweh to return to his homeland. Jacob, being the man of Yahweh that he was, immediately called for his wives Leah and Rachel to discuss this issue because he knew if he was to stay he would eventually lose everything by force. Rachel and Leah wondered where this would all go as they wanted their fair share of the inheritance from Laban. Rachel took Laban's idols (which I believe they were made of Gold or some other precious metal) of the household and they all departed for Jacob's homeland in a time when Laban was far from his home.

It took 7 days for Laban to catch up to Jacob when he was resting at Mount Gilead, which he was able to do because with Jacob was with his cattle, wives, and children. The night before this encounter the Lord appeared to Laban in a dream and told him to be careful how he speaks to Jacob. Laban intended to take everything from Jacob and have him return to his homeland empty handed, but God intervened for Jacob. Both men were angry and Laban wanted his household idols back. Little did both men know that Rachel was the one that took the idols and was sitting on them when Laban looked around for them. The conversation that Jacob had with Laban is recorded in Genesis 31:36-40.

It's important to notice that even with the Lord appearing to Laban the night before and telling him to be careful how he speaks to Jacob he still, even then, wanted his false idols back for his household worship instead of worshiping the true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The final result of the two men arguing was that they agreed to make a covenant that would be marked by a pile of stones and a pillar. Both agreed to not go past the pile of stones and therefore would never see each other again. v.47 Laban called the pile of stones and pillar: Jegarsahadutha which means “Stones of witness” in the Babylonian tongue of Chaldea and Jacob called the “Stones of Witness” Galeed from the Ancient Hebrew tongue.

The important thing I want to notice that even with the true God of Abraham appearing to Laban in a dream, Laban still wanted to have the idols back and rejected God. Whether or not the idols were made of precious metals isn't the point. It was obviously something that he shouldn't have in his household if he wanted to follow the true God of Abraham. Knowing Laban was a Hebrew and Jacob's uncle, we can only pray that he repented later in life and decided to follow Father Yahweh. Of course we all know the true meaning of the word “repent” means to change the way you think and live for the Father and to continue to follow his laws rather than breaking them (1 John 3:4).

I pray that all Hebrew Israelites will repent, change their thinking, and work to usher in his Kingdom.

Praise the Lord!